17 of 52: The Event at Rebecca Farm

On Saturday we all enjoyed the day watching the cross-country portion of The Event at Rebecca Farm. Here I am* with the kids in front of the line of flags from all over the world.

This beautiful farm is located on a section of land nestled in the heart of the flathead valley.

Just a few pictures from the day...

Kyla in front of Sarah and Guiness

Watching the show...
Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping. This event has its roots as a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding. Cross-country, requires both horse and rider to be in excellent physical shape and to be brave and trusting of each other. This phase consists of approximately 12-40 fences placed on a long outdoor circuit. These fences consist of very solidly built natural objects as well as various obstacles such as ponds and streams, ditches, drops and banks, and combinations including several jumping efforts based on objects that would commonly occur in the countryside. Speed is a factor, with the rider required to cross the finish line within a certain time frame. **

The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire. ~Sharon Ralls Lemon

The hooves of horses!
Oh! witching and sweet
Is the music earth steals from the iron-shod feet;
No whisper of lover, no trilling of bird,
Can stir me as much as hooves of horses
Have stirred.
~Will H. Ogilvie

Get out and enjoy your neighborhood!

Hosted by Forever in Blue Jeans

*52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

** this information comes from Wikopedia

Heart Throbbing, Hoof Pounding...

...and we had front row seats!

From Another Front Porch

Our little trip last weekend found us at my Aunt Carol and Uncle John's over in Idaho's panhandle! This has always been a special place to visit all our growing up years. My favorite thing about their historic built home is their huge covered porch. It is always the center gathering place of our times together. This time was no different-here we are gathered on the front porch enjoying the afternoon and each others company!

Here is a slide show of some more pictures...

It was special time spent with Aunt Connie and Cousin Seth (visiting from Kearney, Nebraska) and with Grandma Gladys. What a treat to see John, Karrie, Sarah and Emma again and to be with Grandma and Grandpa too! And a final message to Uncle John and Aunt Carol for a very special time together!
Love,

Camas Prairie

On the prairie, what you are left with is the bare truth, the land pared down to the bone,
the basic dirt and grass and sky that shape the lives that play out upon it.

~Tom Groneberg, The Secret Life of Cowboys (2003)

Last weekend, the kids and I took a quick trip west to see some relatives. Every time we take this route, I love dropping over the mountain and seeing the first glimpse of this expanse of prairie below. This time, we stopped and took some pictures.
At first I didn't want the kids to get out but then I let them and they kept telling me, "Mom, take a pictures of this!" It was an unexpected pleasant stop on our 4 hour journey!
I found myself on the rest of the journey saying to the kids, "Look at that, isn't it so pretty!" Life is much more enjoyable looking for all the beauty in life-even if it is a little hard to find sometimes. This is what I try to remind myself of anyway...

That's why God gave us eyes, so we can see all these wonderful things!~Colter (age 7)

Hope you find something wonderful and beautiful in your day!

16 of 52: Swimming Lessons!

Today was the last day of the kids 2 week swimming lessons. Here I am* with them one day last week before we went out the door on our way to the pool. I used the timer on my camera to take this picture.

And here are some pictures from their last lesson today...

Maya with her class and teacher

Colter with his class and teacher

Kyla swimming

It's a little tricky fitting swimming lessons into our busy summer schedule but we did it! I think we're gonna miss that pool in this 90+ degree weather though...



*52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with your family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

Supper From San Fransisco

One evening, Randy spent some time at the Fishermans Wharf. Here are some pictures...

At the Boudin Sourdough Bread Store and Bakery...

Sourdough, or fermented dough which is leavened with wild yeast, is generally traced back to biblical times. But our San Francisco French bread was created back in 1849, when the Boudin family first blended their traditional French baking techniques with the tangy "sour" dough used by the Gold Rush '49er's. The bread, with its dark-golden crunchy crust, soft chewy center, and distinctive flavor, soon became a local favorite, and before long, people lined up outside the bakery each morning for Boudin's oven-fresh bread. Ever since those Gold Rush days, we continued the tradition of baking San Fransisco Sourdough according to the Boudin family's time-honored methods. Surviving only in our fog-cooled climate, our mother dough imparts a flavor and texture unlike any other bread in the world. Today, we bake a slice of history into every loaf of our Sourdough, starting each day's bread with a portion of the origional Gold Rush mother dough, whick has been divided and replenished with flour and water each day for over 150 years.

They make Clam Chowder too!
And he brought some of it home to share with us!
Creamy Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl. What a treat!
Thank you Honey for thinking of us! You are the best!

Love,
and kids